Abuja:The National Peace Committee (NPC) has raised concerns over escalating misinformation, political intimidation, violence, and inflammatory rhetoric in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the NPC issued a statement, signed by Chairman Retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Co-convener Most Rev. Matthew Kukah, highlighting the issue. The NPC’s Election Security Information (ESI) Hub reported 60 election-related incidents nationwide from August 19 to September 19, following the first National Peace Accord signing on August 18.
The committee stated that misinformation and disinformation were the most prevalent issues, constituting 40% of the incidents. Attacks on political activities and assets accounted for 21.7%, political intimidation and threats 16.7%, political violence 10%, and inflammatory statements 6.7%. Restrictions on freedom of expression, intra-party conflicts, and voter inducement each accounted for one incident.
The NPC emphasized that these incidents deviate from the peaceful campaigns intended under the National Peace Accord and threaten to undermine political participation and public confidence in the electoral process.
The committee urged police and security agencies to conduct impartial, evidence-driven investigations into electoral offences and ensure equal protection for all parties. It called for extending investigations to include organisers and sponsors of unlawful conduct and stressed the need for security personnel to remain neutral.
The NPC also appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enhance monitoring of campaigns, enforce the Electoral Act 2026, and take regulatory action against breaches. Additionally, it urged political parties and candidates to stop false and inflammatory communications and for citizens and organisations to resolve conflicts through legal means.
The committee highlighted the role of civil society, religious institutions, and media in countering misinformation and stressed the importance of peaceful campaigning and lawful political organisation. It committed to monitoring incidents and sharing findings with authorities.